Happy New Year from the staff at ONE Massachusetts!

As a new decade begins, and New Years resolutions are still going strong, we at ONE Massachusetts are taking some time to renew our efforts in Civic Engagement, Revenue Reform, and Government Reform. 

We truly believe that by joining our state's diverse voices in working towards those goals, we can build an effective, fairly-funded government. But this is only possible with your help!

If you or your organization are interested in joining the ONE Massachusetts network, are interested in receiving one of our free trainings, or have ideas on how we can build a the safe, vital state that we all deserve, please feel free to contact me!

Sincerely,

Yawu Miller
Project Director, ONE Massachusetts
yawu@realclout.org | 617-275-2918

• Looking to New Revenue Sources. Rep. John Binienda and four colleagues filed legislation directing the state Lottery Commission to launch a $2 scratch ticket called Snow Bank and dedicate revenues from the ticket into a new fund to cover municipal road-clearing costs. [SHNS]
  
  The state Treasury liquidated abandoned securities accounts, generating $76 million for the state's General Fund. According to the Treasury, officials there would have proceeded with liquidations nearly two years ago "under normal market conditions" but chose to wait to liquidate stocks from 2004, 2005, and 2006 abandoned accounts. [SHNS]
  
  
• Not Looking to New Revenue Sources. Citing glimmers of good news in the economy, Gov. Deval Patrick said Wednesday  that "no tax increases are on my horizon or the commonwealth's horizon." Patrick was responding to a question from a caller during his monthly appearance on WTKK about the effects of a sales tax hike imposed last year. "Revenues are coming back, which is good, and by the way, unemployment is going down." [SHNS]
  
  
• Increased Collections Mean Some Restored Budgets. While tax collections are still declining in some key categories, receipts have exceeded the state's downgraded estimates by $230 million since October and Gov. Deval Patrick said Wednesday his administration is now boosting the state's revenue estimate for the current year by $181 million to "fund the restorations announced today, previous restorations and other spending already accounted for." ...Patrick announced he would restore $14 million to a public welfare program and $18 million for regional school transportation services. [SHNS]
  
  
• Lawrence Bailout. Gov. Deval Patrick filed a New Year's Eve proposal to help Lawrence cope with its budget crisis by permitting deficit borrowing, while threatening state intervention if the city budget is still unbalanced next year. The city is facing a $9.5 million operating budget gap this fiscal year, on top of a capital project shortfall of $8 million, with another deficit expected for next year's operating plan, according to Patrick aides. [SHNS]
  
  
• More Tax Credits Amid Budget Cuts? "State officials are slashing budgets and eliminating programs, but they aren't cutting back on corporate tax breaks, at least not yet. The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, as promised in the life science legislation Gov. Deval Patrick signed into law in 2008, just handed out tax credits worth $25 million to 28 companies...
  
  "Even in a time of constrained resources, this is the type of thing we need to continue to do," said Jay Gonzalez, Patrick's secretary of administration and finance. But there is also growing concern within the Patrick administration about the rising cost of state tax credits and whether they are being handed out in a consistent manner. Officials say the whole panoply of tax credits is being reviewed, with an eye to possibly recommending some changes during the budget process next year." [CommonWealth Unbound]